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Finally, this was noticed. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued a Show Cause Order (SCO) to two motorcycle taxi companies. According to the LTFRB, Angkas and MoveIt did not comply with the number of motorcycles allowed to operate in Metro Manila. A government-mandated cap was placed for the three companies --Angkas, Joyride, and MoveIt-- 15,000 each totaling 45,000 for Metro Manila. The two companies will have a chance to explain this Wednesday. According to the LTFRB, companies may be suspended or removed from the government pilot study if they exceed their respective number of motorcycles.

Anyone can see the sheer number of motorcycles plying the roads today. Besides motorcycle taxis, there are also delivery couriers, messengers, and private commuters. If there are so many motorcycles on the road, I hope the concerned government agencies like the PNP, LTFRB, or LTO do more to discipline everyone on the road. I wouldn't be surprised if every car, bus, or truck driver in Metro Manila has had at least one altercation with a motorcycle rider.

Riders don't understand that there are blind spots or places that car drivers cannot see. A small car mirror can't show the whole area on the sides of vehicles. So, when motorcycles weave and bob around the roads and go unnoticed by cars or trucks, accidents happen. I also notice traffic enforcers seem to turn a blind eye to traffic violators, particularly motorcycle riders but mind you, there are car and truck traffic violators as well.

A sign says, "No right turn on red signal”, but they do not seem to apply to motorcycles. If a car or truck turns on a red signal, they are apprehended.  One-way streets are ignored. A road is designated a double-yellow and still, it is ignored and counterflowed. Boni Serrano Avenue has been widened and barricades placed to delineate lanes and still, some motorcycles counterflow. Red lights are also ignored. Some resort to outright swerving and yet enforcers leave them alone if there are enforcers at all. The only motorcycles I see stopping are at PNP checkpoints.

I believe motorcycle taxis and courier services are important to the country's economy. Many riders have a chance to earn a good living. But I hope they don't think that they are the only ones with privileges on the road and do as they please. This is especially true this holiday season when the traffic is heavy, and some have short fuses. Don't let the spirit and joy of Christmas be ruined just because of a traffic dispute or worse, road rage.